christopherc
Well-Known Member
Has anyone visited and berthed in the canal overnight? The almanac and Lundy & Irish sea pilot seems to imply its not a place to go in other than perfect conditions and I wondered if anyone had any experience
Bude
- Thread starter christopherc
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alan
Well-Known Member
Well, I was actually born and brought up in Bude and lived there for some time untill about 15 years ago. Was last there in October, so .............
It is a very difficult entrance with two sets of leading marks. I have only seen boats enter in summer time when there are spring tides. You have to follow the course of the river Strat up to the lock entrance, there are wooden poles which were used (long ago) for winching sailing ships into the "harbour" and these mark the way in (more or less). There a couple of sailing boats in the canal at the moment. You could lie against the wall at the entrance to the outer lock where there is a sandy bottom, if you are preferably a bilge keeler, and if there is no sea running to bump you up and down but it dries out completely at low water.The local fishing boats are typically locked out in the spring and locked back in September. The lock gates were broken for a number of years but are now repaired (unless they have been battered by winter gales!!). I am not sure what the arrangement is for locking in/out but there is a harbour master and I think his phone number is published. Once in the canal there is about 2 metres in the centre of the lower basin but shallows at each side due to a build up of mud (every so often they drain the canal and you can see what it is like).
I wouldn't want to enter Bude with any sort of a sea or wind because breakers from at the end of the breakwater and a number of fishing boats (and sailing ships) have been lost by trying to enter in rough seas - see photos in the local pum (Brendon Arms). When I was a lad (lots of years ago !!) there used to be a local ship owner who would bring small coasters in during the summer just to keep the port functioning and prevent the local council from trying to close the locks because of non-use. I believe Bude is one of only two functioning sea locks left in the U.K. I think the biggest problem you will face will be trying to coordinate your arrival to time with spring tides, little wind (easterly would be good !) and no sea running ..... this is pretty demanding on the North Cornish coast. Also you don't have many choices for alternatives : Padstow south and Bideford north; both a good run and have their own difficulties for entering.
I am going to be in Bude next weekend (by chance) and if you would like me to ask anything of the harbour master then I'll do my best; if he hasn't changed then I know him from school days and sometimes see him in the pub!! Please feel free to PM me if I can answer any specifics.
Sorry for boring the pants off other readers but it's not often that anybody asks anything that I know about !!!!
Alan.
It is a very difficult entrance with two sets of leading marks. I have only seen boats enter in summer time when there are spring tides. You have to follow the course of the river Strat up to the lock entrance, there are wooden poles which were used (long ago) for winching sailing ships into the "harbour" and these mark the way in (more or less). There a couple of sailing boats in the canal at the moment. You could lie against the wall at the entrance to the outer lock where there is a sandy bottom, if you are preferably a bilge keeler, and if there is no sea running to bump you up and down but it dries out completely at low water.The local fishing boats are typically locked out in the spring and locked back in September. The lock gates were broken for a number of years but are now repaired (unless they have been battered by winter gales!!). I am not sure what the arrangement is for locking in/out but there is a harbour master and I think his phone number is published. Once in the canal there is about 2 metres in the centre of the lower basin but shallows at each side due to a build up of mud (every so often they drain the canal and you can see what it is like).
I wouldn't want to enter Bude with any sort of a sea or wind because breakers from at the end of the breakwater and a number of fishing boats (and sailing ships) have been lost by trying to enter in rough seas - see photos in the local pum (Brendon Arms). When I was a lad (lots of years ago !!) there used to be a local ship owner who would bring small coasters in during the summer just to keep the port functioning and prevent the local council from trying to close the locks because of non-use. I believe Bude is one of only two functioning sea locks left in the U.K. I think the biggest problem you will face will be trying to coordinate your arrival to time with spring tides, little wind (easterly would be good !) and no sea running ..... this is pretty demanding on the North Cornish coast. Also you don't have many choices for alternatives : Padstow south and Bideford north; both a good run and have their own difficulties for entering.
I am going to be in Bude next weekend (by chance) and if you would like me to ask anything of the harbour master then I'll do my best; if he hasn't changed then I know him from school days and sometimes see him in the pub!! Please feel free to PM me if I can answer any specifics.
Sorry for boring the pants off other readers but it's not often that anybody asks anything that I know about !!!!
Alan.
christopherc
Well-Known Member
Great advice Alan, thanks very much. I was thinking of a possible visit in mid May when I'm visiting an outdoor adventure centre connected with work. I thought it might be a nice idea to go by boat from swansea rather than drive, but I can see its tricky and is heavily weather dependant and I havent begun to consider tides yet, which may well rule it out. As you say, the alternatives can also be difficult. I'm in a lifting keel 32 that can take level ground so we could stay outside the lock if there are moorings that are reasonably sheltered. I think the HM number is in the book, but if you see him next weekend I'd be very interested to hear what he has to say.
A
angelsson
Guest
What a perfect example of this forum working as I am sure it was intended, people taking time to help others, long may it last.
DickB
Well-Known Member
I thought that was very interesting. I never knew there was any sort of entrance at Bude. Mind you I dont think I will try either. Give me Poole or Weymouth anyday 
TonyMS
Well-Known Member
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- 16 May 2001
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- Winter St Ives, Cambs; summer Ionian
Spent the night there in Aug 2004. Harbourmaster just left us in the lock over night, with the outer gates open! So we dried out on soft mud. However, there was no charge
Tony
Tony
